The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) officially announces the publication of the Call for Proposals for both the Accelerated and Regular Procedures grant facilities under the well known Direct Assistance Grant Scheme as part of the Regional Private Sector Development Programme (RPSDP) funded by the European Union under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) on January 17, 2014.The Direct Assistance Grant Scheme is a reimbursement grant funding facility specifically designed to provide financial assistance to legally registered firms, individuals and Business Support Organisations (BSOs) who have the potential to export their products and services.After conducting a series of workshops for firms and BSOs throughout 2012 and 2013, across CARIFORUM to increase the schemes awareness and ultimately increase the number of applications received, the release of this Call for Proposals is expected to result in a record number of applicants to utilise the funds made available via the 10th European Development Fund.Grants of up to €30,000 can be received by firms that meet the eligibility criteria, whose applications are accepted and are exporting or demonstrate their potential to export goods and services. “The announcement of this facility is timely in view of many of the regions private sector requiring financial assistance to develop or enhance their businesses to be more competitive in the international market” expressed Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director at Caribbean Export.Applying firms are encouraged to work with their national BSOs who have been trained to provide assistance when preparing applications. As in previous calls Caribbean Export has facilitated the submission of applications in four languages (Dutch, English, French or Spanish) ensuring access by firms from the non-English speaking Caribbean.The deadline for this Call for Proposals is March 7, 2014 and more information about the Direct Assistance Grant Scheme can be found at www.carib-export.com. Contact: Kirk Brown, Senior Grant Advisor (kbrown@carib-export.com) or Celestine Moe, Grant Advisor (cmoe@carib-export.com), Caribbean Export Development Agency, Tel: +1(246) 436-0578, Fax: +1(246) 436-9999

CCC Press (www.cccpress.co.uk) is showcasing new writing in English from around the world in their new series of country anthologies. The World Englishes Literature (Fiction) series (www.new-ventures.net) has so far published anthologies of stories from Cameroon, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya and Malaysia. The anthologies focus on the production of new writing in English or local Englishes, which is edited and presented with a critical introduction. This is a call for the projected collection from Jamaica, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados. Submission Guidelines for Short StoriesWord count: 3000-8000 wordsThere is no theme; the work only needs to reflect Jamaica, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago or Barbados in some manner.This is adult fiction (in the sense that it is not “children’s fiction”).The work must be written in an English (i.e., not translated from another language) and must be written by a resident of Jamaica, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago or Barbados (This is not a collection of diaspora writing.). The story must be “new” in the sense that it is “unpublished” and has not been published in any form. Please send submissions by email to tiffanyuaustin@gmail.com, attached as a Microsoft Word document and formatted as follows:Name of author (Times New Roman, 12pt, bold, left justified).Contact address, telephone number and email (Times New Roman, 12pt, bold, left justified).Title of short story (Times New Roman, 14pt, bold, centered, underlined).Body text (Times New Roman, 12pt, justified, 1.5 line spacing, black).Page numbers and name of author on every page please.Word count at the end of the story (Bold, left justified).Maximum of two entries per person please.Please submit by May 1, 2014.

The Caribbean Writer is seeking works that explore the defining moments of the Caribbean experience, the symbolism in the places that dot the Caribbean landscape, the journeys that inform our experiences, the memories that will not let us go. We hope to highlight and document Caribbean life in its broadest sense. We also invite works that provide a critical and historical overview, of times, places, and memories that reflect the wit, resilience and resourcefulness of Caribbean people as well as the implications of certain periods that have helped to define the notion of the contemporary Caribbean.

Major events in the history of the Caribbean and the experiences of people wherever they live the Caribbean experience is relevant in very profound ways. Memories of these events are meaningful not only because they provide fodder for introspection and change, but also because their implications are articulated on a number of levels. Memories of natural disasters, calamities, migrations, pivotal national decisions, national movements, societal trends, populations shifts, alienation issues, economic swings, internal struggles, and survival strategies ripple through the diaspora and have had such an impact on people that they possess an abiding ability to elicit passionate responses that can create new rifts or forge new alliances.

Caribbean publication accepting submissions for new volumeDeadline: February 28, 2014

Theme: Re-Visioning the Future of the Caribbean through Time, Place and Memories

British Council Scotland is providing three scholarships to enable gifted literature and creative writing students from Commonwealth countries to attend the Scottish Universities' International Summer School (SUISS) in July and August 2014.

The summer school offers three courses in Text & Context: British and Irish Literature from 1900 to the Present and one course in Creative Writing. The literature courses offer extensive examination of theoretical approaches to Modernism, Scottish and Contemporary Literature, while the Creative Writing course allows students to develop their personal writing portfolio. SUISS is based at the University of Edinburgh which offers students excellent educational and accommodation facilities, the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful environment of the capital city, and to explore cultural and historical sites across Scotland.

The British Council Scotland Commonwealth Scholarships will provide two 2-week Literature scholarships and one 4-week Creative Writing scholarship for 2014. They will cover the summer school’s course and accommodation fees, which include the cost of all tuition, accommodation, most meals, a social and cultural programme and full use of the facilities of Edinburgh University’s library. Please note the scholarships do not cover travel expenses or spending money.

Applications for these scholarships are now invited from undergraduate or postgraduate students from Commonwealth countries. The application deadline is Friday, 21st March 2014.For further information, please visit the website at:http://www.summer-school.hss.ed.ac.uk/suiss/

About the CaribLit Blog

Commentary and insight on Caribbean publishing. Here you’ll find articles written by our action group members and other literary and publishing notables, as well as links to useful articles from other sources and coverage of literary and publishing events. We look forward to your comments.